Penny Blacks – Harbour (Independent)

The latest release and first full-length effort from Saint John band Penny Blacks is a heartbreakingly good listen. Drawing listeners in with a mix of melancholic songs and intricate melodies, the group’s use of cello and violin fleshes out their sound rather nicely. Yet for all of the sadness that permeates tracks like Maybe You Should Get Out, Only Good Enough and Heaven Help Your Heart, there is an underlying and perhaps unspoken optimism running through songs including Things Can’t Stay The Same and The Caspian Sea. Based on the strength of this record, you should expect to be hearing more and more from Penny Blacks over the next two years.